Meth bust at Rocky Boy could go far beyond Montana

A drug bust Tuesday by Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation police that yielded 66 grams of methamphetamine could have ramifications beyond the reservation and beyond Montana, the criminal investigator said.

Ed Longknife, who is investigating Tuesday’s bust, said this morning the ongoing investigation could lead beyond the bounds of Montana.

“It’s a big investigation,” he said. “We’re reaching out to different states.”

A firearm and cash were found along with the suspected meth, a Tuesday post on Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement’s Facebook page says.

“Today at approximately 10:25am Rocky Boy Police initiated a traffic stop on a reported stolen vehicle occupied by two males,” the post says. “They were arrested and a search warrant was obtained. A firearm and over 2 ounces (66 grams) of methamphetamine was seized. The estimated street value is $9,000 dollars. No further information will be provided as this case is still under investigation.”

Because of the case’s sensitivity, Longknife said, he could not give out any further information on the bust or the suspects.

Meth has been a scourge on Rocky Boy for years.

In March of 2017, the Havre-based regional anti-drug agency Tri-Agency Safe Trails Task Force won a national award for a case that resulted in 11 indictments, most of them drug dealers on Rocky Boy.

One of the lead investigators Havre Police Lt. Aaron Wittmer, had said one of the main sources of meth was a Yakima, Washington, man.

District Court cases are riddled with meth-related charges, a great number of them having connections to Rocky Boy.

The Rocky Boy Senior Center was temporarily closed the week of Jan. 8 after a residue test revealed the presence of meth contaminants in the building, and meth residue also was found in a shed near the tribal offices.

Longknife said he hopes to have more information about the bust by Friday.